ESGOTO DOMÉSTICO TRATADO COMO FONTE DE ÁGUA E NUTRIENTES PARA CULTIVO SUSPENSO DO ANTÚRIO

Abstract

The supply of water for urban and industrial activities has been overloaded by population growth and increased production, making its adequate disposal and correct treatment essential for its possible reuse in other activities. This study aimed to evaluate the production potential of anthurium (Anthurium andraeanum) in a fertigated suspended cultivation system, using treated domestic sewage as a source of water and nutrients. Three treatments were compared: drinking water with fertilizers (TA), reused water with complementary fertilizers (TRA) and reused water only (TR). The results showed that the TRA treatment did not present a statistically significant difference in relation to the TA treatment in relation to quantitative and qualitative aspects of anthurium growth (length of the stem, spadix, spathe, largest leaf and number of flowers) and productivity. Despite the presence of Escherichia coli in the reused water, the cultivation was considered safe as it did not present contamination in the plant tissue. Furthermore, the anthurium is not intended for human consumption. It is concluded that reused water, enriched with fertilizers as a nutritional supplement, demonstrated viability to be used in the anthurium suspended cultivation system. This approach allows for significant savings in both water and fertilizer consumption.